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Chris Rabb

August 1, 2007

"Hot Viacom Mess"

Recently, there has been an uproar over a new show on Viacom's BET originally called "Hot Ghetto Mess", which was based on a popular underground website of the same name.

As a result of an unexpected consumer backlash against the name/show, it has been redubbed "We Can Do Better".

Same content, just different labeling.

Continue reading ""Hot Viacom Mess""

Posted by Chris Rabb at 5:20 AM | Add Comment

May 24, 2007

Social Francishing, Part I

In my last blog post, I talked briefly about the emerging "fourth sector" as referenced in an interesting NYT article on the same subject. In this same vein, I have recently become aware of the burgeoning "social franchising" movement within the fourth sector.

Quite simply, social franchising is when a non-profit organization (NPO) starts or acquires a for-profit franchise whose offerings are congruous with the NPO's mission and whose revenues can be reinvested into the NPO to decrease its dependence on outside fundraising. Fascinating and innovative idea, right? Absolutely.

However, an NPO that's considering adding to its to-do list the prospect of managing a business is like a juggler going from tossing balls to flipping running chainsaws for the first time -- and without ever stopping!

Now, if this metaphor may sound a bit hyperbolic for some, I recommend that your NPO does not start/acquire a business. If your NPO's board does not have a respectful amount of intimidation about undertaking such a move, I predict dark times for your organization's operations. But doom and gloom aside, the upside is that with the proper due diligence, strategic heft and market opportunity, some NPOs cannot only stand to benefit from this potential worthwhile juggling act, is not only worthwhile for some NPOs, it may actually be vital for many in this latter subset.

Continue reading "Social Francishing, Part I"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 7:16 PM | 1 Comment

May 11, 2007

The Fourth Sector

In last Sunday's New York Times, the front page story in its SundayBusiness Section addresses the burgeoning "fourth sector".

What is this so-called fourth sector, you ask?

Well, if there are the public, private and non-profit (or "independent") sectors, then this new breed of socially responsible hybrid entities makes up the fourth sector.

The fourth sector apparently is what I have previously alluded to as "social enterprises" or what this article has also referred to as "for-benefit" companies. (Clearly, a marketing guru didn't come up with that moniker.)

While the article is well worth reading and sharing with others, I was left thinking that regardless how noble social entrepreneurs' intentions are, until this new enlightened class of capitalists is truly inclusive and equitably funded, the gaping socio-economic gaps that persist in this divided nation will not soon be closed.

Posted by Chris Rabb at 10:46 AM | 3 Comments

April 30, 2007

Do the Brits have executive pay spot on?

As recently reported in The Guardian,
"a proposal to give American shareholders a British-style vote on executive pay was overwhelmingly approved by the [House of Representatives]."

While some critics say this legislation lacks the substance and compliance measures to address the root causes of this escalating concern, it is yet another indicator of a society slowly, but surely scrutinizing the impact of the widening wealth gap in this country.

This legislation comes in light of a slew of international studies that conclude the effects of inequality are greater than the mere impact of poverty alone.

It is sad that it takes these academic tomes and conference to aver what is already quite evident to the majority of people on this planet: that everyone deserves a truly equal chance to survive and thrive.

Posted by Chris Rabb at 4:34 PM | Add Comment

April 1, 2007

Suitability standards for loans are essential in debt-flooded America

In light of the current subprime lending melt-down, legislators are engaging in a long overdue discussion of the various forms of debt our nation is mired in and ways of extricating consumers from this quagmire. According to a recent report released by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL),

subprime loans made during 1998-2006 have led or will lead to a net loss of homeownership for almost one million families. In fact, a net homeownership loss occurs in subprime loans made in every one of the past nine years.

Continue reading "Suitability standards for loans are essential in debt-flooded America"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 12:22 PM | Add Comment

March 22, 2007

Social responsibility = social justice?

Is social responsibility the same as social justice? Can one act in a socially responsible fashion without working towards social justice (consciously or otherwise)? And if these two are not interchangeable or inextricably linked, how does one effect the other?

It would certainly seem that the latter cannot exist without the former, and that the former can be highly correlated with the latter.

To give this philosophical query an inflammatory edge, can we as Americans achieve social justice without explicitly and concretely embracing the idea of and committing to racial justice?

For many, this may be a new term. And, no doubt, this term may be perceived by a significant subset of readers of this blog as "politically correct" jargon embraced by bleeding-heart liberals. And if this is the case, I will accept this knee-jerk reaction as the cost of writing what I hope is socially responsible commentary.

Continue reading "Social responsibility = social justice?"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 9:03 PM | 2 Comments

March 8, 2007

Consider the source

Earlier this morning, I blogged on Afro-Netizen about how the Congressional Black Caucus' advocacy arm, the CBC Institute, is in discussions to co-host two presidential debates with a major cable news channel that many believe displays a strongly anti-Black bias.

Reasonable people can argue about the perameters of social responsiblity and their varying elasticity. However, the CBCI partnering with this media outlet is like chickens supporting Colonel Sanders (to paraphrase former rogue CBC member Rep. J.C. Watts' father).

The more cynical among us might say that all one has to do is to look at any organization's board and top funders and that will tell you pretty much all you need to know about the group's true purpose and priorities -- good, bad or neutral.

Like my grandmother always admonished: "consider the source" -- in this case, the source of leadership and the money that funds its collective agenda.

Continue reading "Consider the source"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 12:03 PM | Add Comment

March 1, 2007

The Rats Guarding (Your) Cheese

Today while passively watching CNN, I saw a faux PSA-style commercial for the Community Financial Services Association of America asking consumers to be careful not to abuse their member payday loan establishments' loan services. No, seriously!

Interesting taking. It's like those Phillip Morris commercial "teaching" parents how to talk to their kids about (not) smoking. Funny how none of the parents featured in the commercials appear to be smokers themselves, given that the parental decision not to smoke themselves is the best indicator that their children will not smoke. However, since it's the parents to whom they claim they are exclusively seeking to market their cancer-sticks, the whole ad campaign is disingenous from start to finish.

Continue reading "The Rats Guarding (Your) Cheese"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 4:58 PM | 1 Comment

February 22, 2007

To Some, "Small Business" is Big Business

Language is a form of power. It is far more than simply communication. Its usage, evolution and application can confer or limit power and status like other forms of influence, bet they physical or mental.

Thus, we have to take great care how we wield language, and jargon is no exception. One such jargony term that so many Americans seem to use without any concern for its range of meaning to different people is "small business". And the reason I mention this term is because there are a whole host of assumptions that many of us make consciously and unconsciously that are germane to discussions of what is popularly viewed as "socially responsible" behavior.

If we were to poll 1,000 "average Americans" and ask them just a few questions on this subject, I wonder how they would respond. First instance, how about actually asking folks how they define "small business". And since I am not aware of any such national poll, I will go on the record and assuming that many -- if not a majority of those polled would essentially equate small businesses with "mom-and-pop" establishments -- the kind of family-owned neighborhood business that many Americans are familiar whose childhood predated the ubiquity of national chains and other big-box retailers.

Continue reading "To Some, "Small Business" is Big Business"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 12:06 PM | 2 Comments

January 26, 2007

Social Responsibility and Media Reform

As the cliché goes, "perception is reality". And whether or not you subscribe to this jaded outlook, it is reasonable to assume that our perceptions and perspectives as Americans are significantly influenced by our conscious and unconscious consumption of messages produced by mainstream media.

These messages are in myriad forms, given the ever-expanding landscape of what now constitutes the media landscape, e.g. TV, radio, film, print, web, etc.

And in a massive marketplace where the vast majority of what we consume is owned by one of eight media conglomerates, we must ask ourselves what does social responsiblity in media look like? Is it merely catchy PSAs and animated interstitials co-branded with a pink ribbon or [red] merchandise? Or must it go deeper than this? And if so, just how deep are we as a nation committed to delving at the expense of the choke-hold corporate media has on our TVs, radios, print publications, computers and glut of shiny, digital spam gadgets (to which I am tragically addicted)?

Is it merely broader, more democratic and diverse ownership of media that America deserves? Certainly no small feat to achieve at present. Is it what type and range of "content" media outlets produce in terms of the accuracy and representativeness of the information and imagery of the subject matter conveyed? Is it a matter of systemic inclusiveness on all levels in the media field? Or could it be a mix of all of these issues?

Continue reading "Social Responsibility and Media Reform"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 1:43 AM | 1 Comment

January 12, 2007

Is Increasing the Minimum Wage the Answer to the Right Question?

On Wednesday, Congress passed a bill 315-116 which would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 in just over a two-year time frame. This, of course, assumes that the U.S. Senate can pass a similar bill that ultimately President Bush will not veto (or can muster a 2/3 vote to overturn a likely veto).

That said, in the off chance that such a bill does become law, it would be the first federal wage increase since 1997 for America's working poor, a worker constituency composed of largely youth, single parents and people of color.

Continue reading "Is Increasing the Minimum Wage the Answer to the Right Question?"

Posted by Chris Rabb at 10:52 AM | Add Comment

January 4, 2007

Social Enterprise in 2007 and Beyond

As this is my inaugural post, I will keep my comments short and pithy.

Social enterprise -- particularly among U.S. micro-enterprises and firms operated in and/or targeting under-served communities -- is the future of modern capitalism in the Digital Age.

For folks who believe this will be (or should be) a mere fad, I suggest that without embracing social enterprise as an economic and societal imperative in the short-term and beyond, the U.S. will expedite its eventual obsolescence as a global economic powerhouse. The choice is ours.

Posted by Chris Rabb at 11:02 AM | Add Comment